It’s hard to believe the first generation NSX is now twenty-four years old. Although it may not qualify as a true “classic car” just yet, Automobile Magazine explains why it makes their “Collectible Classic” for the month of April 2014:

“The NSX would be sold under the premium Acura sales channel in the United States, a shot-in-the-arm for a brand fighting to carve its niche in the crowded marketplace. Launching as a 1991 model, the supercar wasn’t just a landmark event for Honda, it was an engineering breakthrough for the industry, and the first production car to use an all-aluminum chassis and body. Hand-built in Tochigi, Japan, the NSX cost about $65,000, making it the most expensive Japanese car ever to that point.” Greg Migliore, Automobile Magazine

While we’re patiently waiting for the arrival of the “Earth Dreams” CVT and 7-speed dual clutch transmissions, Automobile Magazine has suggested that Acura may utilize a 9-Speed Automatic developed by German supplier ZF by 2014.

An early press release from Honda had the new Earth Dreams electric SH-AWD system paired with Honda’s 7-speed dual clutch, but it still hasn’t been confirmed which models will receive the mentioned combination. According to the article, the next generation TL expected at the end of 2013 may be the first Acura to use the ZF “9HP” transmission.

Automobile Magazine caught up with Acura’s Chief Designer Jon Ikeda at the 2012 NAIAS last week for a little discussion on the NSX Concept. A short article about the meeting revealed Ikeda’s five favorite aspects of the vehicle: Proportion, Size, Front-end graphics/roof pillars, Wheels, and Emotion. Visit automobilemag.com for more on Ikeda’s take on the NSX.

If you want to look back about five years, here’s a video interview from Road & Track featuring Jon Ikeda shortly after the Acura ASCC(Advanced Sports Car Concept) debut at NAIAS 2007.

After a year of testing with the all new 2010 Acura ZDX, the editors at Automobile Magazine conclude their Four Seasons Review.

“Our first drive of the ZDX a few months later revealed Acura’s newest creation to be highly luxurious and even quite good to drive. But we still wondered about its place in the automotive cosmos. Clearly, we would require more time with the ZDX if we were going to get our heads around it. So, we ordered one for a Four Seasons test.” – Joe Lorio, Automobile magazine

Read the final thoughts and find out if their questions were answered by heading over to www.automobilemag.com.

You really can’t find any bad press on the six-speed manual transmission found in the 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD. In a recent Automobile Magazine review, every editor could agree the smooth shifting Honda gearbox is a rare treat they could all appreciate.

“The six-speed manual changes that. Thanks to one of Honda’s legendary gearboxes, the Acura TL can claim a superlative: Best Shifting Sport Sedan. It’s better than the slightly rubbery gear change in the BMW 3-series and better than the somewhat notchy action in the Audi A4/S4. Whereas I couldn’t really remember anything defining about the slushbox TL, I will be blathering for weeks about the precise perfection that is the TL’s manual transmission.” – David Zenlea, Assistant Editor